Barak declines defence post in Sharon govt

Barak declines defence post in Sharon govt
HARSH DOBHAL

JERUSALEM, FEB 21: Faced with opposition within his Labour Party, Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak has refused to serve as Defence Minister in a government of national unity led by Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon.

Reversing his earlier decision to join the government of National unity, an apparently battered Barak accused Sharon in a letter last night of treating Labour like a soldier who must follow orders.

Barak accused Sharon of treating Labour in a way that seriously harms "the trust between us and does not allow me to accept the position of Defence Minister".

According to the Barak's Labour Party Secretary, the premier is also quitting as head of the party and as a member of parliament.

Following his crushing defeat on February 6, Barak had first announced resignation from party leadership, parliament and quit politics for the time being. But later he made a turnaround and decided to serve as defence Minister under Sharon, triggering a stiff opposition from within his Labour Party. The move has also tarnished Barak's image, political analysts said.

Though Barak has blamed Sharon in his letter, he is believed to have taken the decision in the wake of stiff opposition to his "zig-zag" politics within his party. The Labour Party, neverthless, is expected to go ahead with negotiations and join the coalition with the elder Statesman Shimon Peres at the helm of affairs.

Barak said he still favoured a unity government and would recommend that to his fellow Labour Party members.

Negotiations between the two main parties--Likud andLabour--ran into trouble over the inclusion of far-right groups that reject compromise with the Palestinians. Barak said the Labour would not join a government with the far-right, but the Prime Minister-elect insisted on the same.

Barak's announcement has come as a surprise as less than a week ago he had accepted the offer to work in a coalition with the Likud party, prompting severe criticisms from within his own Labour Party.

His decision to quit party leadership paves the way for a leadership struggle inside Labour.

Sharon has until March 29 to form a new government andif he can't, another election would be held 60 days later. Barak would stay in office until another government is formed.

Sharon's landslide victory in the elections was seen bymany as a repudiation of Barak's policy of offering far-reaching concessions to the Palestinians for peace. Over 400 people, most of them Palestinians have died since the violence broke out in September following Sharon's visit to Temple Mount.